Just weeks after the city held the last of a series of meetings in which it solicited residents’ input on rebuilding the boardwalk, officials unveiled a preliminary design of the structure at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.

Officials said that the proposed structure, a combination of tropical hardwood and concrete, could cost approximately $40 million, and they are calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assume most, if not all, of the reconstruction expenses.

Department of Public Works Commissioner Jim LaCarrubba explained that the design incorporates durable and sustainable materials, and factors in public input gathered by Sustainable Long Island and a survey indicating that a majority of residents prefer a boardwalk that is a combination of wood and concrete.

The city entered into a $565,000 agreement with the Syosset-based LiRo Group in January, which was selected after a request for proposals for designs and specifications for the 2.2-mile structure.

“The City Council gave very clear direction on what their priorities were: durability, less maintenance, functionality, resiliency and mitigation,” LaCarrubba said.

The design features a sustainable, low-maintenance tropical hardwood that has a 30- to 40-year lifespan and, LaCarrubba said, is aesthetically pleasing and resilient for joggers and other recreational activities. A wooden span with concrete edges will be built from National Boulevard to Long Beach Road, while the boardwalk’s eastern and western sections will be all wood.

“It’s great in that [the hardwood] doesn’t splinter …,” said LiRo Vice President Peter Gerbasi. “We are also going to be using textured concrete planks in the center of the city — the reason for that is that is your high-activity area. In the center of town, there will be concrete on the edges … [The] wooden area … will be contiguous the whole length of the city.”

Even the three little pigs learned their lesson regarding building materials. If FEMA is still at the Ice Arena, may I suggest you go there in person to submit your $40 million request. And don't get upset if FEMA denies your request for funding, a lot of your fellow neighbors, residential & business, got the same letter. Although FEMA will politely suggest to Long Beach's City Counsel to purchase flood insurance. Maybe Long Beach could qualify for a low interest SBA loan. Hurry, get your paperwork completed!